Oh that I might capture the essence of this deep midwinter night
And fold it softly into the waft of a spring-moon quilt,
Then fondly uncoil it the night my beloved returns.
Poem Origin: Korea, 16th century
Poem translation © 1996 by Dr. Larry Gross
This translation is not in the public domain.
Notes
Hwang Chin-i's pen name was Myong'wol, meaning Bright (or Full) Moon. Hwang's reference to a spring moon is most likely a reference to herself.
Korean kisaeng were courtesans who entertained court officials and others of high rank. Though frequently of lower birth, these women were often highly intelligent, trained in dancing, painting, and literature. Profiting from the less-inhibited nature of their calling, the kisaeng felt free to express personal emotions in their writing, something men in the public eye usually avoided. The language of kisaeng poetry often included fresh imagery, humorous similes and thinly veiled, risque metaphors.
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